Originally Posted by johnboyzzz

The plan to use him relied too much on the weather forecast, it was supposed to be chucking it down and windy, with his good kicking, which he has done loads of times, but the wind died and rain stopped before the game.
Yesterday was review day and he has seen what he did wrong all the time the was on the pitch, also what Greeeeeeg did right on the pitch when he came on and decided with AR the time is right to go. Nice guy that he is, it was time for him to go after the WC and AR to blood the youngsters with around 25-30 games to the next WC.

Aye, but why announce a retirment which puts spot light on things rather than staying in squad, knowing you won't be picked, helping others, he might still be needed if Laidlaw and Weir got injured otherwise it means playing Godman who quite frankly is worse.

Originally Posted by Dicey

You're so right. We have not beaten anyone else of note....because Scotland are not of note. Everybody beats them.

Truth hurts obviously.

Originally Posted by Fang_Farrier

Aye, but why announce a retirment which puts spot light on things rather than staying in squad, knowing you won't be picked, helping others, he might still be needed if Laidlaw and Weir got injured otherwise it means playing Godman who quite frankly is worse.

Don't know the answer, but I'll try and find out what the gossip is.

I do think the vitriol being directed at Parks may have had something to do with his decision and I don't blame him really I imagine there's only so much shit (and blame) one man can take.

I don't think Wales will have such an easy ride as some seem to think against Scotland.

Originally Posted by whingeingpom

I do think the vitriol being directed at Parks may have had something to do with his decision and I don't blame him really I imagine there's only so much shit (and blame) one man can take.

I don't think Wales will have such an easy ride as some seem to think against Scotland.

I wish I could agree with you but over the past few years, the Scotland team has looked good on paper, the two pro teams have done reasonably well in League and HC but time and time again we have just not managed to produce the goods.
We can't score tries, even at Murrayfield, we struggle against lower ranked teams ( RWC, that game against Samoa in Aberdeen, last minute kick to win for examples)
And yet we have managed to beat South Africa, Australia and Argentina(in Argentina)

However where have we been in the last few 6Ns, solidly fighting the Azzuri for the Wooden Spoon and quite frankly having watched them play France and knowing that the game is in Rome, I doubt we'll win it.

It was bad enough, not being in top 8 when RWC draw was on, leaving us in pot 3, anymore like last weekend and we'll be lucky to make Pot 4 for 2015.

when Italy first joined in the then 5 nations tournament, people were saying " why are Italy allowed to take part? they won't win anything".
For the first couple of years, they didn't win a game, then they started getting better results. Now i think that the only teams that they haven't beaten in the 6 nations are Ireland and England. Back in the 70s-80s when Jack Rowell was in charge at Bath RFC, he was one of the first club managers to take his team across the Severn bridge into Wales, to play teams like Swansea, Pontypool ETC. His team would lose game after game in Wales, but then they started to win games. Jack Rowell knew that you don't get better by playing teams who play at the same level as you, you improve but playing teams stronger than you. This is what Italy are doing, It won't be long before Italy win the six Nations.

What nobhead decided to play the France/Ireland at 21:00 local?

It's alright if your planked on the settee or down the local, but how the very f**k am I going to get to 9PM in Paris and still be able to stand up?

Originally Posted by Fang_Farrier

We can't score tries, even at Murrayfield, we struggle against lower ranked teams ( RWC, that game against Samoa in Aberdeen, last minute kick to win for examples)
And yet we have managed to beat South Africa, Australia and Argentina(in Argentina)
.

I think you'll find that Samoa are ranked higher than Scotland

Anyways, I'll be hoping you beat the Cave Dwellers.

Originally Posted by the_guru

Anyways, I'll be hoping you beat the Cave Dwellers.

They'll need to learn to catch the ball first.

Originally Posted by Stooriefit

Truth hurts obviously.

Precisely. Who could crow about consistently beating a side who do not even figure in the top ten - and falling fast.

We'll see whose got bragging rights come Sunday evening.

Have a nice day.